Sparingly-raced Freight Train bounced back from a disappointing run in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley in March to score a first-up win over 1600m at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
Ridden by Blake Shinn for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the 4-year-old son of Shamus Award finished resolutely to defeat Heavenly Eagle (Echoes Of Heaven) by three-quarters of a length with Teser (Reset) back in third.
A winner over 1600m on debut at Pakenham in February, Freight Train finished second over 2040m at Sandown in March, encouraging connections to roll the dice in the Alister Clark a fortnight later.
Kent said the stable has a high opinion of the strapping gelding.
"It looked on paper there was no pressure, and that's how it worked out. He was a class above them," he told Racing.com.
"He has to prove he's a 2000m horse but is very promising. He is clean-winded, very sound, and uncomplicated.
"We don't know where the ceiling is yet. It's very exciting."
Blake Shinn said there was merit in the win.
“He didn’t have the early speed to lob where I wanted. I had to come back a pair, and the speed was slow,” Shinn said.
“First-up at a mile, he did a good job to win.
“He is still a dumb bugger at his fourth start, but there is plenty of improvement.
“I noticed when I got on him how he had developed physically. Mentally, he is still not quite there.”
Racing in the colours of Brae Sokolsk, Freight Train was a $250,000 purchase for Yes Bloodstock from the HP Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner from three to race for the talented Excites mare Parraay, a 5-time winner for Kris Lees from 18 starts.
From the family of Horse Of The Year Research, Parraay has a 3-year-old Tassort gelding named Tasoraay, who was third on debut at Newcastle in June.
Parraay has a yearling colt from the first crop of Pinatubo (IRE) and was covered by Brave Smash last spring.
It's been a good couple of days for Shamus Award, whose consistent son Threatening broke through for a well-deserved win at Hawkesbury.
Shamus Award stands at Rosemont Stud for $38,500.
